Pete Townshend never thought he was creating anything important with Tommy. Some of the origins of his famous rock opera were even rather scrappy — the anthemic “Pinball Wizard,” for example, was stuck in at the last minute to schmooze a rock critic who was nuts about pinball. Similarly, when local thespians Jennifer Szczesny and … Read more
“Your senses will never be the same,” claimed the advertising slogan for Ken Russell’s 1975 film version of Pete Townshend’s rock opera Tommy. And for this writer, at least, that proved very true. The movie introduced me to Russell’s world, which in turn inspired me to write a book about his movies. Tommy was the … Read more
After all these years, I still get a bit pissy when faced with anything from movie mogul John Hughes’ ’80s adolescent-whine oeuvre. And that goes double for Pretty in Pink. Forget that my own teen angst had nada to do with what the 1986 flick’s Brat Pack principals were able to convey through blatant overacting. … Read more
Not every actor would willingly trade pointy-eared celebrity for single-eared obscurity. But in March 1981, Leonard Nimoy debuted in Minneapolis as the star of his own one-man show about the life of Vincent van Gogh. It was an idea at which theater pundits initially scoffed: An actor like Nimoy — best known for portraying the … Read more
A review Where: The Orange Peel parking lot When: Friday, March 26 “Aren’t you going to stay with us all night?” asked the man with the battered thermos. He’d been sitting outside The Orange Peel for Bob Dylan tickets since 10 p.m., and he was already late in line. At least three dozen people were … Read more
“We want to be a visible presence; we want to be taken seriously,” insists Sylvia, a founding member of the Asheville Vegetarian Society. As if to drive that point home, four group members have met me for lunch at the Early Girl Eatery — and together, we’re a server’s nightmare. “Does this have any dairy?” … Read more
The fruit trees are blooming, the birds are back, the sun is rising earlier each day, and it’s time to start clearing a space for this year’s garden. But it goes without saying that the weeds will already have gotten the jump on you. “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,” the saying goes. But … Read more
Characterizing the RBC Centura Mountain Sports Festival is a lot like trying to describe Asheville itself. A response I recently overheard began with, “Got a minute, ma’am?” Since the festival’s inception in 2001, it’s been part celebration, part recreation, with a little bit of recognition tucked inside a whole lot of participation. Factor in a … Read more
“[Addiction] does not want the addict; it wants the family, the community, the nation.” — the Rev. Renita Weems Addiction, explains the Rev. Renita Weems, “wants your soul, but it will settle, for now, [for] your sanity. It wants your hope, but it will settle for your family. … It is a spirit with a … Read more
